The 4th North Bengal Bird Festival and 1st Asian Butterfly Meet will be held at Gajoldoba Wetlands in West Bengal, India, from the 22nd to the 27th of March 2024. The Association for Conservation & Tourism (ACT) organises the festival with the Department of Tourism of the Government of West Bengal. The festival aims to promote sustainable tourism, deeply emphasising community engagement and conservation efforts. The festival also aims to showcase North Bengal’s rich natural heritage to visitors, tourism experts from India, and international participants.
The 4th North Bengal Bird Festival 2024
This is the 4th edition of the North Bengal Bird Festival. The previous editions of this festival focused on training grassroots workers on bird tourism and exposing the participants to the rich birding habitats of North Bengal. This year’s festival will be extraordinary as it is held with the 1st Asian Butterfly Meet. Therefore, it will be a big event for eco-tourism in the region, and there will be a lot of emphasis on promoting North Bengal as a destination of choice for bird and butterfly enthusiasts worldwide. Delegates will also participate in a field trip to the Unesco World Heritage Site of Neora Valley National Park with bird and butterfly experts as part of the festival.
4th North Bengal Bird Festival and 1st Asian Butterfly Meet Delegate Fees
People interested in attending or participating in the 4th North Bengal Bird Festival and 1st Asian Butterfly Meet need to know the fees imposed upon delegates. Below are the different categories of delegates and the fees:
- Delegates attending the seminar and business exhibition (INR 3,000.00)—Delegates in this category will be able to attend the seminars and presentations and interact with presenters. Fees include the conference kit, two lunches on the 23rd and 24th of March, and amenities.
- Delegates attending and presenting at the seminar and business exhibition (INR 15,000.00)—This includes transportation from Siliguri to the venue, accommodation, food for two people on a double-sharing basis at the venue, and table space at the exhibition. Delegates in this category can also present at the venue and showcase their product to other delegates.
- Delegates attending the bird and butterfly field trip only (INR 9,500.00)—This category can attend the bird and butterfly trip to Neora Valley National Park from 25th March to 27th 2024. The trip will include transportation, food, accommodation, and the services of bird and butterfly experts.
- Delegates attending the entire program from 22nd to 27th March 2024 (INR 16,000.00)—This includes transportation from Siliguri to the venue, accommodation, and food for a single person on a double-sharing basis at the venue, as well as table space at the exhibition. Delegates in this category can attend the seminars and presentations, make presentations to other delegates at the venue showcasing their product, and participate in the field trip to Neora Valley National Park.
To pay the delegate fees for the festival, please get in touch with the Association for Conservation & Tourism (ACT) or visit the official Facebook page of the North Bengal Bird Festival 2024. You can also email mailactoffice@gmail.com.
4th North Bengal Bird Festival and 1st Asian Butterfly Meet Program
- 22nd March – Registration, inauguration & dinner
- 23rd March – Local field, networking & seminar
- 24th March – Local field, networking & seminar
- 25th & 26th March – Field Trip & Survey with experts at Neora Valley National Park
Location for the Bird Festival
The location for this year’s festival is at the Gajaldoba Wetlands, near Siliguri in West Bengal, India. The Gajaldoba Wetlands is a bird paradise among the locals and is a hotspot for migratory birds. Thousands of ducks and waders congregate at this location during the winter months. Some birds you can see here include the Great Crested Grebe, River Lapwing, Red-Crested Pochard, Bar-Headed Goose and many others.
Getting to the venue
Anyone interested in participating in the festival can travel there by taking a flight to Bagdogra Airport in Siliguri. One can take a flight to Bagdogra Airport from New Dehli, Calcutta and other big cities in India. Even though Bagdogra Airport is an international airport, it only caters to international flights from Bangkok, Thailand and Paro, Bhutan. If you travel from other countries, you must make a connecting flight from other big cities in India, such as New Delhi.
The festival organisers have arranged transportation to the festival venue from the airport. Alternatively, interested participants can take a taxi or other transport to the wetlands.
Conclusion
Please visit the official Facebook Page for more details on the 4th North Bengal Bird Festival and 1st Asian Butterfly Meet. Contact the Association for Conservation & Tourism (ACT) for more information. For information on birdwatching events worldwide, check out our article on birdwatching fairs worldwide.